Save money and feel warmer thanks to weatherstripping insulation tape.

• Weatherstripping is tape that seals the gaps between the moving parts of a window or door. As well as helping to prevent draughts, it acts as a barrier against dust, insects and noise, and is a lot cheaper and easier to fit than double or secondary glazing. Weatherstripping comes in different types – look for one with adhesive backing to make fitting it quicker.
• Period windows tend to be draughty, so weatherstripping is ideal for them, especially if you can’t have secondary or double glazing because of planning restrictions. To prepare the window frame, remove any loose paint, then touch it up (if necessary) and leave to dry. Clean and dry the frame before applying the tape.
• Fitting weatherstripping to sash windows is quite complicated because you need it along the top and bottom sashes (both sides), the bottom of the bottom sash, the top of the top sash and the outer meeting rail (the point where the top of the bottom sash meets the bottom of the top sash). Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the weatherstripping, and consult a good DIY book or website for the order in which to fit it on sash windows.
• If your windows are more modern, they may have a slot designed for weatherstripping, known as a kerf. The weatherstripping needed for this has a tubular edge on one side and a lip on the other to provide a tight seal.
• To replace tubular weatherstripping, start by prising it off from the tubular edge. Ensuring that the surface is clean and dry and that no remnants of the old tape remain, press the new weatherstripping firmly into the slot and trim to fit exactly.

DIY news bulletin

Bosch has announced its new and improved power tools for 2012 – and the line-up looks impressive.

The tools include a new power paint roller (£129.99), available from February, which can be used with pretty much any emulsion, not just special packs, and is really easy to clean – brilliant.

There’s also a new drip-free wall-paint spray gun (£179.99, available from April) and a new cordless screwdriver (£59.99, available from June), with a built-in rotating container for bits, so you’ll never have to waste time searching for the right bit again.

Other new additions, launching this month, include a cordless tacker (£59.99) and an improved cordless glue gun (£69.99).

The Bosch IXO IV cordless screwdriver (£39.99), which has 30% more power than before, will be available in May. There’s even a Swarovski crystal-encrusted version, £299.99, for DIY with added bling. One for the ladies, I think.

For more information, visit www.bosch-do-it.co.uk/diy

Earlier this year, The Little Greene Paint Company launched Retrospectives, a collection of authentic paint colours from the 1960s and 1970s, and now it’s launching Retrospective Papers, a range of wallpapers.

The eight designs (in 37 colourways) are based on 1960s and 1970s sources and will be unveiled at the end of January. For more information, visit www.littlegreene.com

Ask the expert…

Q: I’ve taken off the patterned wallpaper below the dado rail in my hall and the walls are uneven. Is there something I can do about it myself? I can’t afford to have them replastered.

A: Perfect Finish Smooth & Repair, £18.98 for 2.5ltr, Ronseal, fills imperfections and is designed to make damaged walls and ceilings smooth again. It comes with a smoothing tool (and a tool-cleaner clip and holder clip) – you simply use a short-pile roller to apply the product, then smooth it out with the tool, in a similar way to plastering. SmoothOver For Damaged Walls, from £19.99 for 2.5ltr, Polycell, is another good product. To use it, you need the SmoothOver Tool Set, which costs £7.15 and consists of a smoothing tool and a special roller. It takes a while to get the hang of using these products, and you’ll probably create tramlines applying them, which will need to be sanded when dry, but it should be cheaper than having the walls replastered.

Seasonal task…

The start of a new year is a good time to take stock of anything missing from your toolbox, shed or garage, and buy it in the sales. If you want to do home improvements in 2012, plan ahead and get the materials, fixtures and fittings now to take advantage of sale prices. All the big DIY sheds have good deals on at the moment, so shop around.